Piccoli won't support bill based on Gonski review

By
Anna Patty, Bianca Hall

A ROW has broken out between the state and federal governments over a new system of schools funding on the eve of its introduction to Federal Parliament later this month.

A ROW has broken out between the state and federal governments over a new system of schools funding on the eve of its introduction to Federal Parliament later this month.

Even after the federal government introduces the landmark legislation, key details about the level of funding and indexation - and how much the states and territories will be expected to pay - will remain unanswered.

The NSW Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, said he would not support the bill.

''The bill is an embarrassment because it is a poor reproduction of the Prime Minister's speech at the Press Club back in early September,'' he said.

''There is still no money on the table and no real, constructive negotiations.

''In fact, we actually know less now than we did when Gonski handed the government his report almost a year ago.''

Mr Piccoli accused the federal government of using the Gonski reform as a political tool in an election year. ''The fact that media have been briefed before the states have had the chance to respond to the bill underlines that this is a stunt,'' he said.

NSW teachers fear the $1.7 billion in cuts to the state's education budget will threaten federal funding under a new national system of schools funding.

The president of the NSW Teachers Federation, Maurie Mulheron, said the public education community would welcome the news that the Gonski reforms would be introduced to Federal Parliament this month.

''The only fear we have is the state government's savage cuts of $1.7 billion can potentially put the Gonski funding at risk,'' he said.

Responding to the Gonski review in September, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said the government expected the bill for reform to be about $6.5 billion.

Based on the central recommendation of the review, it will fund schools a certain amount per student, with extra money for students and schools facing educational disadvantage.